House passes 2014 Budget Bill's first reading
The Parliament yesterday passed the 2014 Budget Bill in its first reading expanding 30 hours, through a 292-155 vote and pending a further scrutiny in the second reading in another 30 days.
A 63-MP scrutiny committee was set up yesterday and will convene the first meeting on June 3. The 63 MPs are from various parties with many unusually from small-sized parties under the Pheu Thai-led coalition's quota. This was later protested by Democrat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai but was dismissed by Deputy House Speaker Wisut Chainarun who presided over the session.
Wisut later claimed that it was a conclusion between the whips of the coalition and the opposition but a small party MP said that was not true. The Democrats were attempting to protest over this issue but Wisut dragged on, and secure an end to this dispute.
The Democrats attempted to extended the 30-day period for another 15 days, but was defeated in a 284-79 vote.
Earlier in the session, PM's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn defended the bill in response to the opposition's observations, and clarified that certain agencies no longer needed money for what was not needed, like the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives not being given a flood relief for farmers affected from floods.
Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong made a closing statement on behalf of absent Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, currently taking an overseas trip, saying that the Bill was meant to honour the government's commitment pledged to the Parliament when it newly took office, on improving quality of the life of the people, promoting fairness and good governance and securing sustainable development.
